Univision

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Sony Pictures TV is expanding its ties to Latin American media giant Televisa , inking a deal to produce 840 hours of programming over a five-year frame. The projects will draw on Televisa's deep bench of talent for 12 series to air on Televisa channels in Mexico and in the U.S. on UniMas, the Univision sibling channel. Deal, announced Monday by Televisa's Jose Baston and Sony TV's Andrea Wong , calls for the partners to carve up distribution rights in other territories, with Sony handling distribution across Latin America, while Televisa handles the east and south of Europe.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of the Spanish-language television network Univision [UVN.UL] said on Monday that Comcast Corp's plan to buy rival Time Warner Cable Inc could be "bad for Hispanic audiences. " Univision President Randy Falco said on a conference call with media analysts that the proposed $45 billion deal, which would bring together the No. 1 and No. 2 U.S. cable providers, was a "cause for concern. " "We are hoping at the very least there is that scrutiny and potentially much tougher restrictions added to the existing consent decree (prompted by a 2011 deal)

Univision Communications unveiled strong first-quarter results Monday, fueled by growth at its UniMas broadcast network and other offshoot channels. Univision's net revenue increased 10.5% to $621.1 million for the first quarter ended March 31 compared to $562.0 million for the same time frame in 2013. Adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization rose 12.1% to $251.4 million for the first quarter compared to $224.2 million for the same period the year prior. In a conference call with analysts, Univision execs cited growing concerns over the pending merger between Comcast and Time Warner Cable, and the legality of online TV content streaming service Aereo.

CBS rolled to a primetime ratings victory in key demos Monday as Connecticut's victory over Kentucky in the college basketball men's championship game is expected to more than double the young-adult tune-in of the night's top series, NBC's " The Voice ." According to preliminary national estimates from Nielsen, college basketball averaged a 6.0 rating/16 share in adults 18-49 and 17.8 million viewers overall from 9:30 to 11 p.m., though the game didn't end until close to midnight in the East.

At first blush it sounds like something out of a Cheech & Chong movie, but in fact it's a serious effort. Fusion , the startup cabler run by ABC News and Univision, has named journalist Ryan Nerz as its chief cannabis correspondent. Given the spread of legalized marijuana availability in the U.S., Nerz will cover the growing market for pot, examining economic and cultural impact of the shift in public policy. As a contributor to Fusion's digital and TV platforms, Nerz will explore all aspects of cannabis culture and the business it is generating as states such as Colorado legalize its sale for recreational use. Nerz has written for NPR, Esquire and cabler History.

Longtime Univision News anchor Jorge Ramos will be feted by the National Assn. of Broadcasters next month as part of the org's annual confab in Las Vegas. Ramos, an eight-time Emmy winner, will receive the NAB 's Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his nearly 30 years at the helm of Univision's flagship nightly newscast. Ramos also has a big presence on Fusion, the newly launched cable joint venture of Univision and ABC News. "For nearly thirty years Jorge Ramos has been one of America's leading broadcast journalists, establishing himself as one of the most recognized and respected figures in Hispanic television," said NAB prexy-CEO Gordon Smith.

In line with its current multiple digital offerings, Univision is launching a new digital content house called La Fabrica UCI, with the goal of creating, scripting and producing original video for new digital brands and Univision digital platforms. The new production arm will have facilities in New York and Miami, and create content through partnerships, acquisitions and in-house content development. Boris Gartner, vice president and general manager of La Fabrica UCI, will lead the venture, reporting to Univision New and Fusion prexy Isaac Lee and senior VP and general manager Mehul Nagrani.

Univision Communications, Inc. and Variety Media are teaming up to launch " Variety Latino-Powered by Univision," a joint venture announced Monday that will focus on providing Spanish speakers across the U.S. with unparalleled coverage of all aspects of the global entertainment industry. The content will be available via VarietyLatino.com, as well as across Univision's digital platforms, TV networks and local stations. The venture is slated to launch Feb. 27 and will be introduced the industry at an event in Los Angeles that day. Addressing two of Latinos' hottest passion points - show business and celebrities - the multiplatform co-branded offering expands Univision's 360-degree strategy of providing the Univision experience everywhere its audience is. "I am proud that Variety , an iconic brand in entertainment, is partnering with the most powerful voice for Hispanic content in America to deliver in-depth coverage and access to the biggest stories in the world of entertainment, all day on every device," said Michelle Sobrino, publisher of Variety . "And as the first Hispanic publisher of Variety , I am gratified to be part of an organization that continues to break ground in its coverage of the industry.